Illuminated sign.



T. C. MATTHEWS.

ILLUMINATED SIGN.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 14, 1918.

1,23,@ 1 Patented Feb. 11, 1919.

INVENTOR WITNESSES v ATTORNEY THOMAS C. MATTHEWS, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

ILLUMINATED SIGN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. ill, 1919.

Application filed May 14, 1918. Serial No. 234,526.

To all whom it may con cern Be it known that I, THOMAS C. MATTHEWS, a citizen of the United States, residin at Denver, in the county of Denver and tate of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Illuminated Signs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to signs and more particularly to an electrically illuminated sign adapted for displaying characters or T names on either of its sides and the primary object is to provide an improved reflector for the interior of the sign so that the light rays from the illuminating element will be equally distributed within the sign box so that the character on the opposite side of the sign box will be readily apparent and easily distinguished.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sign of this character having a removable reflector longitudinally slidable' in the sign box whereby it may be readily removed for renovating, painting or polishing.

The invention also aims at the provision of a sign of this character that will include supplemental reflectin elements associated in close relation with the illuminating member whereby the rays from the illumlnating member will be extended toward the main reflecting member for evenly distributing the light on opposite sides of the signbox.

Further objects of the invention is the provision of a device of this character which consists of comparatively few parts and is simple in construction, but durable and well adapted to Withstand the rough usage to which devices of this character are ordinarily subjected.

For a full description of the invention and the advantages and merits thereof, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein is' illustrated'the preferred form of my invention, in which 2-' I Fi re tie a fragmentary side elevation showing the sign constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrow.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective View of a detail of the invention.

Referring to the invention, wherein is illustrated the preferred form of my invention, dicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the sign box is constructed to have the opposite sides 1 and 2 and the end walls 3. The end walls 3 are remo'vably mounted and are detachably secured by the fastening elements 4 which may be of any preferred type. The ends of the end walls 3 are extended upwardly beyond the upper wall of the sign box and also downwardly below the bottom wall of the same and the end of each of the upper and lower walls are provided with flanges 5 through which the extended ends of the end walls 3 are fastened through the medium of the detachable fastening elements 4:. In this manner either end wall may be readily removed when desired.

The upper marginal edges of the side walls 1 and 2 are turned at right angles to provide the laterally extending attaching flanges 6 which are provided with a plurality of openings for the reception of suitable fastening elements 7 which secure the flanges to the top wall. At the margin of the flanges 6, I have provided channels which are formed by downwardly, outwardly and upwardly bent portions of the extension of the flanges and these channels indicated at 8, are adapted to receive the tongue 9 formed on the marginal edges of a reflector element 10. The reflector is extended longitudinally through the interior of the sign box and is substantially V-shaped in cross section as shown to advantage in Fig. 2 of the drawing. The apex of the reflector is centrally located at a point below the longitudinal center of the Sign box and in direct alinement with an incandescent light 11 which is mounted in a removable base 12 adapted to be readily slid out of the sign box when it is desired to attach or detach the light or lights 11. These lights, of course, will be suitably connected to a source of current in which like numerals of reference inwheglreby they may be illuminated when des1re 1 Attached to this base 12 are oppositely arranged angularly disposed supplemental deflectors 13, the lower marginal edges of which are arranged in close spaced relation at the top of the base member 12 while the upper marginal edges are extended outwardly at. an angle and contact with the inner surfaces of the side walls 1 and 2 of the sign box. This arrangement causes the light rays from the incandescent light to be deflected from the polished surfaces of the members 13 so that they are directed toward the reflecting surfaces of the reflector to equally distribute the light rays within the sign box whereby the characters on the opposite walls 1 and 2 will be readily distinguished when the sign is illuminated.

The feature of having the base 12 removable so that it may be slid from either end of the box and also provided with the supplemental reflecting plate 13 makes the device easily assembled and it may be also quickly disassembled or assembled for the purpose of making repair or installing new lights or deflector The slidably mounted reflector 10 may be also removed from either end of the sign box for the purposes of substituting a new reflector or cleaning or polishing the reflecting surfaces of the old reflector.

the preferred form. I desire it to be 1111 derstood, however, that slight changes may be made in the minor details of construction, Without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claim hereunto appended.

I claim.

- An illuminated sign comprising a sign box having removable end walls, the side walls of the box having their upper marginal edges provided with flanges fixed to the top of the box, the marginal edges of the flanges having channels attached thereto, a substantially V-shaped deflector extending longitudinally of the box and provided at its upper marginal edges with tongues adapted for reception in the said channels, a slidably mounted removable base mounted in the bottom of the said box and provided with angularly arranged reflectors disposed beneath the said main reflector, and illuminating means mounted upon the said base.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS C. MATTHEWS. Witnesses:

G. W. LAWRENCE, Z. LAWRENCE. 

